DD Form 2656-10 at a glance
What it is: DD Form 2656-10 is the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Former Spouse Request for Deemed Election, used by a former spouse to deem an election for Former Spouse SBP coverage.
Who signs: The former spouse signs: SIGN in SECTION V - FORMER SPOUSE SIGNATURE.
A filled-in DD Form 2656-10 example: a former spouse requests a deemed election
How to fill out DD Form 2656-10, box by box
Member name and SSN or DoDID
In box 1, enter the MEMBER NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial).
In box 2, enter the SSN or DoDID.
At the top of the second page, enter the MEMBER NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial) and SSN or DODID.
3a. BRANCH OF SERVICE and b. (X one)
In box 3a, BRANCH OF SERVICE, the boxes are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, NOAA, Coast Guard and USPHS.
In b. (X one), mark one of Active, Reserve or National Guard.
4. IS MEMBER RETIRED? and 5. date of retirement
In box 4, mark YES or NO for IS MEMBER RETIRED? In box 5, IF KNOWN, ENTER DATE OF MEMBER'S RETIREMENT (YYYYMMDD).
SECTION II - FORMER SPOUSE IDENTIFICATION
In box 6a, enter the FORMER SPOUSE NAME (as it appears on court order) (Last, First, Middle Initial).
In box 6b, enter the CURRENT NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial).
In box 7, enter the SSN or DoDID.
In box 8, enter the ADDRESS (Include ZIP Code).
In box 9, enter the DATE OF BIRTH (YYYYMMDD). In box 10, enter the TELEPHONE NUMBER. In box 11, enter the EMAIL ADDRESS.
12. MARRIAGE HISTORY
Under 12. MARRIAGE HISTORY, in a., enter the DATE MARRIED TO MEMBER (Listed in Item 1 above) (YYYYMMDD).
In b., enter the DATE OF DIVORCE (YYYYMMDD). In c., mark YES or NO for ARE YOU CURRENTLY MARRIED?
In d., IF YES, enter the DATE OF CURRENT MARRIAGE (YYYYMMDD).
SECTION III - AUTHORITY TO REQUEST DEEMED SBP ELECTION
13. Is election made pursuant to requirements of a court order? Mark YES or NO. If Yes, attach a copy of the associated divorce agreement and court order.
14. Is election being made pursuant to written agreement as part of or incident to a proceeding of divorce, dissolution, or annulment that has been incorporated in, ratified, or approved by a court order? Mark YES or NO. If Yes, attach a copy of the written agreement and court order.
If you answered NO to both Item 13 and Item 14, STOP: you are not eligible to request a deemed SBP election.
SECTION IV - DEPENDENT CHILDREN INFORMATION
15. Was child coverage also court-ordered or required by a written agreement? Mark YES or NO. If you answered NO to item 15, do not complete item 16.
16. LIST DEPENDENT CHILDREN REQUIRED TO BE COVERED BY COURT ORDER/WRITTEN AGREEMENT.
If a court awarded former spouse and child(ren) coverage, list all of the children of your marriage to the member. In block d., list that child's relationship to the member and with you. For example, 'my daughter and his stepson'.
Enter a. NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial), b. DATE OF BIRTH(YYYYMMDD), c. SSN, d. RELATIONSHIP (Son, daughter, stepson, etc.) and e. DISABLED? If 'YES', provide additional information in Item 17. REMARKS.
17. REMARKS
17. REMARKS: use this space to further explain any item if necessary. Reference by item number.
SECTION V - FORMER SPOUSE SIGNATURE
SIGN the SIGNATURE in box 18 and enter the DATE SIGNED (YYYYMMDD) in box 19.
More rules for DD Form 2656-10
Mail your election to the appropriate Uniformed Service designated agency; it is strongly recommended that you send via certified or registered mail.
You must advise the finance center of any changes to marital status, your correspondence address, or changes to your financial institution.
Read these instructions carefully before completing the form. Please print legibly.
Failure to provide requested information within one year of the date of the court order which requires former spouse SBP coverage will result in denial of former spouse SBP or RC-SBP coverage.
Common questions about DD Form 2656-10
Is there a deadline?
This form must be submitted within one year of the date of the court order or written agreement authorizing former spouse coverage.
Where do I file it?
ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE and MARINE CORPS: Defense Finance and Accounting Service Garnishment Law Directorate, Post Office Box 998002, Cleveland OH 44199-8002. COAST GUARD: Commanding Officer (LGL), USCG Pay and Personnel Center, 444 S.E. Quincy Street, Topeka, KS 66683-3591. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE: Commissioned Corps Headquarters, Compensation Branch, 1101 Wooten Parkway, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION: Same as U.S. Coast Guard.
Sources
[1] DD Form 2656-10 (JULY 2020), Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Former Spouse Request for Deemed Election, Washington Headquarters Services (the Official source link on this page).